Automatic bowling alley



May 9, 1944. E. HEDENSKOOG AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY 4 Sheets-Shae: 1

Filed June 19, 1942 w an R9 m M Ma QM A a Q mm 3 L. m h t. M a W AW NN H1 Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC BOWLING ALLEY Ernest Hedenskoog, Muskegon, Mich., assignor to The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Chicago, 111.. a corporation of Delaware Application June 19, 1942, Serial No. 447,621 '20 Claims. (01. 273-44) improved means for re-setting the pins in correct position on the field of play.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for controlling each pin during its upward removal from the field of play in a manner which prevents the pin from swinging pendulously'and striking other pins remaining on the'field.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an automatic bowling alley with improved means for retaining the pins in their respective positions on the playing surface adapted to engage and secure the pins automatically when they are lowered onto the surface in proper position.

More specifically it is an object'of the invention to provide an automatic pin controlling mechanism for a bowling alley which includes yielding means stressed for elevating the pinx when it is struck by the ball and released from the playing surface of the alley, a control member guided for vertical movement adjacent the path of upward travel of the pin and having yielding means stressed for drivingthe control,

member upwardly when the pin is released, and a link or connection between the pin and the control member, through which the 1 control member prevents the pin from swinging pendulously during its upward travel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

Figure l. is a perspective view of an automatic bowling alley embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the alley at the end which includes the playing field or surface, and the housing over th pin setting mechanism, a portion of the side wall of the housing being broken away to disclose said mechanism;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view showing the ball return runway and ball returning arm;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 2; 1

Figure 5 is a sectional plan view taken as indicated at line 5-5 on Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a detail elevational view showing driving connections for the pin setting mechanism;

Figure '7 is a detail section showing a fragment of the pin setting mechanism with apin at ele- 'vated position;

Figure 8 is a detail view of the parts shown in Figure '7 but with the pin lowered onto the playing surface;

Figure 9 is a view of the parts shown in Figure 8 with the pin setting frame at elevated position;

Figure 10 is a detail view showing the pin as it is struck by the ball and indicating in dotted outline the operation of the control device;

' Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view on a large scale showing a bowling pin mounted on a rod and connected to other portions of the setting and control devices;

Figure 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail .view of the pin retaining means as positioned 'in the process of spotting the pin on the playing 'Figure 13 is a sectional detail similar to Figure 12 but showingthe parts in pin securing position;

Figure 14 is a plan view of the pin retaining means set in the floor of the playing field.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, the embodiments shown in the drawings and described hereinafter are by way of preferred illus- Itration only and it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto or thereby; but it is the intention to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. t

In the drawings the reference numeral l0 designates generally the bed orplaying surface of a bowling alley or the like having an area H at one end, which is herein referred to as the playing surface or playing field and upon which the bowling pins are set up or spotted at predetermined positions from which they are dislodged by means of a bowling ball rolled along the alley I 0. A housing 12 is mounted over the playing field l l to enclose certain mechanisms with which this invention is concerned, and the housing may include a hood l3 to accommodate illuminatin means and reflectors for brightly lighting the field of play. When a ball has traversed the playing field II it drops into a receiving trough l4 beyond said field and rolls along the trough around a bend at l5 so as to arrive at the starting portion iii of the return track or runway |l along which the ball is delivered to the player at the approach it of the alley. The mechanism for transferring the ball from the starting section l6 of the track to the return section I? is largely similar to that shown and described in my previous patents, No. 1,953,227, dated April 3, 1934, and No. 2,019,607, dated Novembern5, .1935, but will be hereinafterbriefiy described.

Within the housing I2, each of the bowling pins 28 is mounted upon a rod 2|, as seen in Figure 11, having a shoulder 22 near its lower end and a head 23 at the extreme lower end;-.anclztheilower end of the pin has a cavity which accommomates the shoulder 22 andaportion'ofithefhead 23, when the pin is supported onithelsheulder. The rod 2! has limited vertical play through the pin 2!! and at its upper end the ma is couple'd to a second rod or link 24 by means of a.universal coupling which includes a transverse pivot and a 'se'conditransverseipivot 2fizatrrighttanglesito the first. Similarly the:rod:or:link-24 is coupled at its'upperlend tora'rod'i l byimeanssiof .a universal -coupling :having'transverse :pivot's 28 and 29 :at

right angles to each other.

As seeniinFigure '7 ,the .upperaend-of-i the 1 rod 21 carriesaihead or icollar 3|! tandxa .spr ing 3| is coiled about the rod 21 to react betweenztheahead and a washer J 301 "whichrrests on v a cushion -spring 3il2 seated'tupon .abushingEBZ WhihTiSICaT- ried in the lower end of a guide tube 53.3,through which the'rrodsiorilinks lfil andld areslidable (see Figure '11).

Guide tubes 33, one f0r :each of athe rbowling pins, are rigidly :secured iin a :horizontal :frame or platform 134 which iisiguided for reciprocation .on vertically extending: guide :rods secured in the top iwa'll o'fithe housing 1112, as :seenrin. Figure Apand is'stea'di'ed'by "brace'rmem'bersfi 6 "extending from the side walls of the housing.

Whenthe-pinsi2il"are'inelevated positionsiwith :the links 24 drawn up into rthe :gui'de tubes 33, each 'pinrests-on the shoulderiz2zio'fits'rod 2|; but, as seen in Figure 12, as soon as the pin 12!! :"isilowered into contact with? the spotting surface of ithe playingfield 'therodi2'l fmovessdown- =warclly"through .the pin'into an" upwardly'fiared socket i'llset'inthesufface 'of the area The flared portion-of rthe socketile'ads to a well 4| which is slightly widerath'an the head 23 on -the rod 2 i but'which has downwardlyrconverging'side walls M Ito confine :theL'headL23'asiitmoves-dowm -ward' below the :fla-redaportionof 'ithe socket =40. *By the flaringsurface thetrounded head 23iSi'fiISl7 'camm'edr toward "and int'o the well ":4| then it :encounters *the-sloping nose '41! of "a "l-atchdog =43,as shown in "Figure 112, "and as "it continues downward, after this encounter, the head 23 depresses -a spring arm *whichprojects 'across'thewell '4"| inoblique'position and whichifinal'lyzreacts "to 1 shift the head '23 laterally into position I, under -the latch 43,="as indicated in dotted" lines irrFigure 1 2. From the: extreme lower :limit of its movement, 'the rod "2| rises fto ithe'positi'on shown in "Figure i 13, swings theflaztchiiog upwardly about its pivot d 3 and: in oppositionttoiits spring 432. In final position, portions of -the fl'read 23' and of .the latch :43'are-acc0mm-odated inthe cavity Ziil at the lowerend ofthepinifid; :butinstantly, upon -1'e'lease"ofthe'pin (when it is struck'by a bowling :ball') :the latch :is (withdrawn below the plane "of *thelplaying surface'by its spring 432.

a comparison .rof Figure 7 andFigure-"8 it will nbe-understood :that lthe'alowering of the pins :20 onto the playing :field H I is accomplished by the lowering of the frame or platform 34 which carries the guide means 33. This movement of the platform 34 is accomplished by suitable power operated means which will be presently described. Both at its elevated position as shown in Figure 7 and during its descent toward the position shown in Figure 8 the weight of the pin .2ll,is sustainedby the coilspring 3| reacting upwar'dly against the head 30 at the upper end of the rod 21; but when the head 23 of the rod 2| .has been engaged by the latchdog 43 the frame or platform 34 is moved upwardly while the connected rodsf2l, 2d and 2'! are anchored to the floor .of theplaying field H; accordingly the s prin g'3| .is compressed as the bushing 32 in the -s'leeve33.-moves toward the head 30 on the rod '21. This spring 3| thus stores energy for elevat- :ing the pinfrom the playing field instantly upontits. release from the latchdog 43. It may be understood that all the latches in the field engage the heads 23'at the forward sides, that is, the :SidES :toward the portion of the alley be'd z'along'which theball is rolled. Therefore, when ---a:pin '20 is struck by :a ball, it is knocked rear- -wardly and the head 23 is thus dislodged from 'under the latchdog I43, whereupon the tension ofthe spring3| jerks'the pin upwardly, while the continued motionof theball 56, as seen in Figure 10, tends to swing the pin rearwardly during ::the initialportion of its'upward travel. The universal joint connections'lcetween the rods:2| and 24, at 25 and 26, and the additional universal connections between the rod 24 and the rod-21, 1at-28vand 29, permit the pin to swing in a comparatively natural mannerin response'to the imzpact-of the ball 55. But as the spring 3| con- "'tinues to-expand upwardly therod 26 is steered into theguide sleeve '33 through the flared lower --end-o'f:the-bushing'32 (seeFigure 11) and finally a shoulder 31 in the bushing '32 arrests the :shouldered-terminalfsfi of the universally jointed 1connection attached to the upper end of the -.rod 2|.

At-anintermediate position between the floor surface of:therplaying-field H and the range of movement of the frame 34 there'is a stationary .deck 45 %.provided [with "a plurality of openings #46, *onesfor each'of the pins 29, and as each pin is lifted bythe force of its spring 3| it is drawn .j upwa'rdly through the opening 45 in the deck '45.

During its upward movement, however, and

.after the ball has passed under the pin or has been "deflected toone side of it, the pin -should ,rbezprevente'd from swinging forward in ,1 5such a-way-asto knock down other pins dis- :posed forwardly of its original position; this could-notoccur if thebowling pins were not of :thertethered ,typebut were free to move in response totheimpact of the ball alone, as in the standard bowling game, and it is desirable 'to=duplicate conditions of the standard game as accurately as possible notwithstanding the provision of the automatic devices to which =this :invention relates. Therefore a. vertically extending guide rod 5| is secured in the deck 45 and extends upwardly therefrom at a. "short distance behind each of the vertical axes 'of the pins 20, and a control mem- "ber :52 is slidably mounted on the rod'5l with a coil spring "53 reacting upwardly between the t'member 52 and the deck 45. The rod 5| is :formed with;notches or indentations 54 in the mature "of =ratchetteeth spaced at frequent intervals, and the control member -52 carries a wspring pressed dog 55 adapted to engage :inr'the 43 in the floor'of the field II. the spring 53 is relatively light, so that the slight notches 54. A check chain 56 connects a lug 51 on the control member 52 with a lug 58 on the rod 2| and as the pin is forced'down and spotted on the field I I, as shown in Figure 8, the chain 56 draws the control member 52 downwardly along the guide rod 5|, compressing the lateral pull which it exerts through the chain 56 does not tend to tip or dislodge the pin from its spotted position. I But when the pin is struck :by the ball 59 so that the upper end of the rod 2| swings rearwardly and at the same time begins to travel upwardly in response to the stored energy of the spring 3|, the slackening of the chain 56 permits the spring 53 to push thecontrol member 52 upwardly along the guide rod 5|. After the ball has passed and the pin 20 begins to swing back forwardly, it will be checked by the chain 56 but the resulting tension in the chain will not pull the member .52 downwardly because the spring pressed dog automaticallyengages in the ratchet notches 54 as it rides over them and acts as a detent to prevent downward movement of the member 52. This does not interfere with the continued upward movement of the rods 21, 24 and 2| and the pin 20 carried thereby which continues until the member 38 engages the shoulder 3! in the bushing 32 at the lower end of the guide sleeve 33. But as fast as the upward travel of these parts proceeds it is accompanied by a corresponding upward movement of the control member 52, so that said member, being restrained against return movement by its detentdog 55, acts through the chain 56 to check any excessive forward swing of the pin 20, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10. i

As shown in Figure 11, each of the guide rods 5| extends through theframe 34, being suitably guided therein by a bushing 59. Associated with the bushing 59 there is a depending sleeve 6.!) which travels downwardly with the frame or platform 34 as the latter descends in the operation of spotting ,or re-setting the pins on the playing field II. 11, the chain 56 is slack at the beginning of this movement. Before the descent of the pin 20 and its rod 2| has'proceeded far enough to take up this slack, the sleeve 66 descends to a position at which it encounters the sloping upper edge of the dog 55 and cams the dog out of engagement with the notched surface of the rod 5|. Thus, as the platformy34 continues to descend, the chain 56 is tensioned and operates to draw the control member 52 along the rod 5! to its lower limit at which the spring 53 is compressed,

as shown in Figure 8. The return of the platform 34 to its upper limit withdraws the sleeve 69 from engagement with the detentdog 55 leaving the dog ready to cooperate with the notches 54 when the pin 20 is struck and released in the process of play. The return of the platform 34 to its upper limit also serves to compress the springs 3| associated with each of the pins 29 so that these springs shall be ready to retract each pin upwardly as it is struck by the ball or otherwise released from its latchdog 43.

The actuation of the frame 34 is effected by means of an electric motor 10 connected by a As indicated in Figures 7 and 5 belt 'II to a pulley I2 which is an element ina speed reducing train enclosed in a housing 13,

as seen in'Figure 4. The slow speed gear I4 of this train carries one member 15 of a clutch, while the cooperating member I6 is slidably mounted onthe shaft 1'! of the gear 14. En

gagement of the clutch members I5 and 16 transmits rotation to a shaft 18 which carries a wheel I9 and a crank arm integral there'- with. The crank arm 80 is pivotally'connected at 8| to a two-part pitman consisting of an upper, tubular member 82 and a rod 83 slidably engaged therein and pivotally connected atits lower end to 3. lug 84 on the frame or platform 34. A pin 85 extending through a slot 86 in the tubular member 82 transmitsupward movement from the crank arm 89 and tube 82 to the rod 83 and to the platform 34 for elevating the latter. The pin 85 also supports the platform 34 in its downward movement "until the pins 20 have arrived in contact with the playing surface II, whereupon any excess of downward stroke of the member 82 and crank arm 80 will be absorbed by a cushion spring 81 pocketed in the upper end of the tube 82 to react against the end of the rod 83 therein.

It may be understood that preferably the motor I0 and the speed reducing train and shaft 77 connected thereto will run continuously. When a bowler has completed his play and wishes to have the pins re-set, he will depress a foot pedal 90 at one side of the approach area It of the alley and this pedal, acting through a rod or cable 9|, bell crank 92, link 93, bell crank 94, and link 95, as seen at Figure 1, will swing the :arm 96 and the clutch shifter '91 in a direction to engage the clutch member 16 with the clutch member I5. This movement of the shifter 91 about its pivot will withdraw a locking roller 98 from a notch 89 in the wheel 19, but a spring 99 acting upon the arm 96 in a direction to separate the clutch members I5 and IE will cause roller 98 to bear against the face of the wheel I9 and to enter the notch 89 immediately upon completion of one revolution of the wheel 19 and its crank arm 89. Thus, actuation of the foot pedal 90 by the player causes a single reciprocation of the frame or platform 34 which serves to lower the pins 20 from the position shown in Figure 7 to the position shown in Figure 8 and then to return the platform 34 to its upper limit, as shown in Figure 9, with the springs 3| in compressed condition, ready for action when a bowling ball again strikes the pins 28.

As already noted, the ball 56, after striking the pins on the playing surface ||,or if it misses the pins and passes into one of the gutters I9, drops into a trough I4 extending transversely at the rear of the playing surface II, and this trough, being inclined toward one side of the alley, guides the ball around the curved portion I 5 and into the starting section I6 of the ball return track I'I. Connecting the section I6 and the main portion of the ball return I? is an upwardly curved track section Hi0 which is substantially arcuate about the axis of a fulcrum pin |6| projecting through the side wall of the housing I2. A rocker plate I 82 fulcrumed on the pin |0I has one arm pivotally connected to a link I83 which extends to a crank arm I514 on the end of the shaft TI, which rotates continuously whenever the motor I9 is running. The rotation of the crank arm I04 causes oscillation of the link I63, which rocks the plate I02 upon ,,--its :Lfulcrum and realises-"an arm I05, carried by the "plate I 0.2, :to sweep upwardly 'adjacent the 'arcuatectracksection I and then return to an .initial position againstpasstop I06. In this position .the lower-end of the arm I is disposed just behind theball 50, so that as'the arm sweeps upwardly over the track I00, it carries the ball :itOZ'thB upper end of the section I00 and starts it'ialongtthe'ball return;track I'I. When the ball jisiagainplayed and rolls from the trough I l onto :thestartingsection I6 of the'track, it arrives :at ian upstandingstop-arm I01 which is held yieldingly in-upstanding'position by a spring I08 (see Figure 3). Thereafter, upon the next downward sweep-:of the arm I05, the roller I09 carz ried :atits lower end,'will encounter the outer ffaceof the stop-arm I07 and will ride up over this face :as the upward movement of the crank pin flilo'on the plate I02 draws' the arm I05 upwardly #andrearwardly. The pin IiI0 is'engaged by a slot -IslI in .the upper end of the arm I05, while a zspringilil2 reacting between the plate I02 and the :upper end of the arm I05 forces the arm yield-' ringly-downward to insure its proper positioning back of the ball 50 before the commencement of its upward sweep over the curved track I00. A driving lug M3 on the plate I02 engages the -.rear edge of the arm I05 to carry it through this upwardly sweeping movementbut allows the arm atoi'trail'in its return movement in passing over etherstop member I01 if a ball 50 is present in :the section I6. -When the arm I05 again sweeps fforwardlyito carry theiball up the curved track r100, thespring I08 allows the stop I01 to yield :and swing down between the rails of the track to permit the ball to pass. With the shaft TI and "crankarm IM operating continuously, the ball is thus "returned promptly to the bowler without :anyaction on his part; if desired, however, several'balls may beemployed in rotation, in which :event the continuous operation of the ball re- -:.turn mechanism willmaintain a reserve supply at the end of the ball return track, as seen at 414 in'Figure 1.

To safeguard the mechanism against damage, the operating circuit for the motor I0 may include a switch I mounted on a bracket I2l seciured to the-driving rod 83 for the platform 34. The'actuating arm I22 of the switch I20 extends under the end of'the tubular section 82 so that if any obstruction should block the normal descent of the platform 34, the excessive telescopic action of the member 82 upon the rod 83 would trip the switch arm I22 to its off position and stop the motor I0. The regular control switch forithe motor is provided with a-manually operra'ble'lever at I23 adjacent the approach area I8 where it may be operated when the alley is put in service and again when the players have fin- "ished.

The cushion spring 302 in the sleeve 33 is also in the nature of a safeguard to the mechanism. It transmits'the final thrust to the rod 2! which -;effects the latching of the pin 20 in spotted position by means-of the latchdog 43. If, through slight inaccuracies in manufacture or adjust- :ment, the heads 23 of the several rods 2| should not'a1l arrive in latching position simultaneously, or if some should encounter more resistance than others at the springs 44, the inequalities are taken up by the individual cushion springs 302 in the sleeve 33, and the platform 34 can be given "a slight over-stroke downward to insure that all the bowling pins shall be latched in po- 'ISitiOIl.

ca'aaiaseo I claim:

1. In a bowling-alley, a rbowling:.pin,1a:latch device in the alley operative to hold the pin-in "position "for play, a platform above the pin, a shouldered rod connected tothepin and extending through said platform, and a spring on'said rod compressed against theshoulder thereof and reacting against'the platform when the pinis latched to the alley, said spring expanding :to'lift 'the'pin when itis released'irom'the latch.

2. In a bowling 'alley, a bowling pin, a latch "device in the alley operative to hold 'the'pinin :position'for play, a platform above the pin, a guide tube extending vertically 'from the'plat- 'form, a rod reciprocable'in said tube, a second rod :connected by'a universal joint at one end to the first rod and connectedby a universal joint 'at'thetother end to=the pin, and *a spring coiled :about the first rod and compressed between a shoulder on said rod and a shoulder in theguide tube when the pin'is latched to the alley, said spring expanding to lift the rod'and elevate the pin when the pin is released from the latch.

3. In a bowling alley, a bowling pin, a rod extending axially through the pin and slidable therein, said rod having a head at its lower end and a shoulder spacedfrom the head to engage thelower end of the pin, a latchdogmounted in a recess in the alley, said recess having converging walls to guide the head of the pininto latched position under the dog, means operable to lower the pin and depress the rod through it to efiect such latching engagement, and spring means connected to the rod in stressed condition when the pin is thus latched,said spring means acting to lift the pin upon release thereof from'the latch.

4. In a bowling alley,.a bowling pin, a latch devicein the'alley operativeto hold the pin'in position for play, a spring andmeans by which said spring is connected to-the pin in stressed condition when the pin is latched to the alley, said spring acting to lift the pin when'the pin 'is released from its latch, and control means operating automatically to check pendulous 'rnovement of the pin as it is carried upward by said spring.

5. In the combination defined in claim 4, said control means comprising a control member :guided for vertical movement adjacent the path of the-pin when thus released, a second spring urging said member upwardly, and a link connecting said pin to the control member.

'6. In the combination defined in claim 4, said control mean comprising a control member and means for moving it upwardly'in a path adjacent 'the' path ofthe pin when said pin is thus released, together with means extending laterally from said control member to the pin.

7. In the combination defined in claim 4, said control means comprising a vertical guide rod adjacent the path of the pin when thus released, a control member slidable on said rod, a spring "urging said member upwardly, and a link connecting said pin to the control member,

'8. In the combination defined in claim 4, said control means comprising a vertical guide ro'd adjacent the path of the pin when thus released, a control member slidable on said rod, a spring urging saidmember upwardly, a link connecting said pin to the control member, and a one-way clutch device carried by the control member op- -erative to engage the rod and prevent reverse movement of said member during upward travel of .thepin.

': "9. In the combination-defined in claim 4,-said controlmeans comprising a verticalguide rod adjacent the path of the pin when thus released, a control member slidable on said rod, a spring urging said member upwardly along the rod, a

link-connecting said pin to the control member, said. rod having a'series of notches at intervals in: its length, and a spring pressed detent engageable with said notches successively as the control member rises and operative to prevent reverse movement thereof whereby the link is kept tensioned during the upward travel of the pin.

10. Ina bowling alley, a bowling pin, a latch device in the alley operative to hold the pin in position for play, a vertically reciprocable plat form above the pin, means for lowering the platform to set the pin in latched position and then returning the platform to elevated position, a spring connecting the pin to the platform said spring being stressed by the return of the plat-- form to elevated position and acting to lift the pin when said pin is released from its latch, and

control means operating automatically to check pendulus movement of the pin as it is carried upward by said spring. I

11. In the combination defined inclaim 10, said control means including a vertical guide fixed adjacent the path of the pin when thus released, a control member slidable along said guide, said platform engaging said member to lower it while setting the pin, a spring engaged with the control member and stressed by the lowering thereof, and a link connecting said pin to the control member, whereby the control member is urged upwardly along the guide by its spring when the pin is released and maintains tension in the link.

12. In the combination defined in claim 10, said control means including a vertical guide fixed adjacent the path of the pin when thus released,

,, a control member slidable along said guide, said platform engaging said member to lower it while setting the pin, a spring engaged with the control member and stressed by the lowering thereof, and a link connecting said'pin to the control member, together with a one-way clutch device carried by the control member operative to engage the guide and prevent reverse movement of said member during upward travel of the pin, and means on said platform which releases said clutch device during the lowering of the control member by the platform.

14. In the combination defined in claim 2, a control member guided for vertical movement adjacent the path of the pin when thus released, a second spring urging said member upwardly, and a flexible link connected to said pin near the upper end thereof and extending laterally to said control member to check pendulous movement of the pin during its upward travel.

15. In the combination defined in claim 10,

' a fixed deck positioned above the alley and below said platform, said deck having .an opening through which the pin is withdrawn upwardly by its spring, and said control means including a vertical guide rod fixed: in the deck adjacent saidopening and extending through the platform; a control member slidable on said rod, a link connecting said control member to the pin near its upper end, and a spring coiled about said rod between the deck and said control member, said member being lowered and its spring being compressed'by the lowering of the platform in setting the pin, whereby the link is stressed andthe control member is urged up wardly by its said spring when the pin is released. 16. In the, combination defined in claim 10, a fixed deck positioned above the alley and below said platform, said deck having an opening through which the pin is withdrawn upwardly by its spring, and said control means including a vertical guide rod fixed in the deck adjacent said opening and extending through the platform, a control member slidable on said rod, a link connecting said control member to the pin near its upper end, and a spring coiled about said rod between the deck and said control member, said member being lowered and its spring being compressed by the lowering of the platform in setting the pin, whereby the link is stressed and the control member is urged upwardly by its said spring when the pin is released, said guide rod having a series of notches at intervals in its length, a spring-pressed detent dog engageable with said notches as the control member rises and operative to prevent reverse movement thereof, and a member depending from the platform adjacent the guide rod, said member being interposed between the detent dog and the rod by the lowering of the platform to hold the dog out of said notches while the control member is being re-set.

17. In a bowling alley, a bowling pin, means in the alley operative to hold the pin in position for play, a vertically reciprocable platform, a yielding connection by which the pin is upheld by the platform when the latter is elevated and means on the platform engaging the pin and operative to place it forcibly on the alley when the platform is lowered, together with a driving motor with means connecting it to the platform including a telescopic link yieldably operable in the direction for lowering the platform, and a switch controlling the motor circuit, said switch being mounted upon one part of said telescopic link with its actuating member positioned to open the circuit upon engagement by the other part of the link in the event of telescopic action caused by obstruction to the pin lowering operation.

18. In a bowling alley, a bowling pin, a rod extending axially through the pin and having an upwardly facing shoulder to support the pin, said rod having a head at its lower end, an upwardly flaring socket in the alley below the playing surface thereof, a latchdog at one side of the socket and a yielding arm projecting obliquely into the socket from the opposite side, said arm yielding in response to downward pressure of the head as said head is forced past the latchdog and then reacting to shift the head laterally into latching engagement with the dog.

19. In a, bowling alley, a bowling pin, a rod extending axially through the pin and having an upwardly facing shoulder to support the pin, said rod having a head at its lower end, an upwardly flaring socket in the alley below the playing surface thereof, a latchdog engageable with said head, the rod being axially slidable in the pin, and the pin having a cavity in its lower by'the platform when thei latter: iS-- elevated;

and means on the platform: engaging theapin and operative to;p1ace:it forcibly:on the-alley when the platform is: lowered; together: with: a driving motor with means "operative1y 'connecting said motor to the platform'sincluding a .connection collapsible in iresplonseieto resistanceencoun tered in the loweringlmovement;andrmeans oper able'by the collapse ofisaidiconnectiontorrenden the motor inefi'ective for:furthenloweringofthe platform when such resistance is encountered:-

ERNEST I-IEDENSKODGZ 

